The Ninth Commandment – Ten Lessons Regarding God’s Prohibition Against Lying

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Ex. 20:16; Dt. 5:20).

Love others by only telling the truth1

Introduction: The Narrow Interpretation of the Ninth Commandment. To some, the Ninth Commandment is a technical sin that is limited to perjury in a court of law. The Ninth Commandment does prohibit perjury. God is just (2 Thess. 1:6; Job 8:3). This means that God cares deeply about divine order and the fair treatment of the accused. He intended a fair and unbiased court system to exist to judge the accused. He also cared so much about protecting the accused, that He requires two or more witnesses to prove a criminal allegation. To ensure the fair treatment of the accused, He prohibits false testimony. For these reasons, witnesses who provide false testimony are subject to severe punishment under God’s law.

The Broad Interpretation of the Ninth Commandment. Others believe that it is wrong to limit any discussion of the Ninth Commandment to technical acts of perjury. With all of the Ten Commandments, God’s intention was not to prohibit only the final and ultimate sin. He also sought to prevent the factors that lead to the most severe sins. Adultery is a perfect example of this. A narrow reading of the Seventh Commandment only prohibits relations between a man and a married woman. Yet, Jesus came to dispel that kind of legalism. He instructed that a mere lustful thought toward someone who is not your spouse is an act of adultery (Matt. 5:28). Thus, God cares that we address the underlying sins that lead to perjury. At its root, the Ninth Commandment in its broadest sense addresses sins of the tongue. This includes all forms of lies. It includes the negligent spreading of lies about another through gossip. It also includes speech that may be truthful yet calculated to hurt another. These are all forms of evil in God’s eyes. Just as God intends to protect a neighbor’s physical property with the Eighth Commandment, He intends to protect a neighbor’s reputation with the Ninth Commandment. Because God wants us to remove all lies in our lives whether they are acts of perjury or not, this study adopts a broad interpretation of the Ninth Commandment. This study examines why God is so offended by lies and gossip. This study also examines the kind of speech that God expects from believers.

1. Lying Is Offensive to God Because It Undermines God’s System of Justice on Earth.

2. If You Say that You Do Not Lie, the Truth Does Not Lie Within You.

3. A Liar Forms a Bond of Communion with Satan.

4. For Both the Saved and the Unsaved, Perjury and Lies Will Bring Consequences on Earth

5. For the Unsaved, there are Eternal Consequences to Perjury and Lying

6. To Be in Communion with Christ, Speak only the Truth

7. To Be in Communion with Christ, Testify and Speak only the Truth With Love.

8. To Be in Communion with Christ, Let Jesus, Your Advocate, Defend You

9. Repent of Your Lies and Gossip and Make Yourself a Living Sacrifice to Christ.

10. Forgive Those Who Have Lied and Gossiped about You.